These guiding principles, known as The Excelsior Way, were created with input from staff, students, and families. The Excelsior Way is a way of trusting, coping, living, and learning that guides each individual in the school community- from these principles, we developed the School-wide Learning Expectations (SLEs): respectful, responsible, literate, thinking, independent, and productive.

Schoolwide Learning Expectations

Respectful

Demonstrate self-respect; support others while exhibiting compassion for human differences; understand and respect authority; demonstrate appreciation and respect for the immediate, local, and global environment.

Responsible

Recognize the cause and effect relationship of behavior; demonstrate self-discipline; actively participate in the decision-making process; show consistency of purpose; demonstrate willingness to accept constructive feedback and take direction.

Thinking

Use critical and creative thinking skills to synthesize, analyze and evaluate information; demonstrate reasoning skills to solve problems; apply thinking skills in solving problems in particular and concrete situations; use critical thinking skills to demonstrate use of ethical and moral principles; use self-reflection in order to grow from experiences.

Independent

Demonstrate self-confidence and self-determination; make choices that promote physical, mental, and social-emotional well-being; demonstrate individuality by appropriately expressing thoughts and feelings; demonstrate daily living skills; demonstrate awareness of universal values and principles necessary to function in a democratic society.

Productive

Exhibit a strong work ethic; identify personal strengths and weaknesses; set goals and carry out a personal growth plan; demonstrate interdependence through cooperation and collaboration; actively participate in and contribute to society.